Steelers QB Russell Wilson says he's a new man in Pittsburgh, 'I feel the fountain of youth'
While change is never easy in the NFL, it can often be for the best. Russell Wilson was hoping to find success in Denver after leaving Seattle, but thing's didn't go as planned. So while he aimed to be a Bronco much longer, he is now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers and feels like […]
While change is never easy in the NFL, it can often be for the best.
Russell Wilson was hoping to find success in Denver after leaving Seattle, but thing's didn't go as planned.
So while he aimed to be a Bronco much longer, he is now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers and feels like his best is yet to come:
Russell Feeling Revived
"Man, I feel the fountain of youth," Wilson told Brooke Pryor of ESPN after practice on day one of minicamp when describing what fuels his drive. "I feel revived in every way, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. I feel confident. I think at some point you have to know who you are as a player, as a man, as a competitor. As somebody who's been fortunate to be able to play this game, I don't doubt it. I trust it. I felt really good last year playing. I felt really confident in the midst of everything. And so I think right now I have all that confidence times 10."
Wilson, who turns 36 in November, hasn't looked like the 9x Pro Bowler and future first-ballot Hall of Famer many believed he would be over the past three seasons. A thumb injury his last year in Seattle hampered his throwing ability and in Denver, he seemingly lost the athleticism that made him so dynamic as play extender.
After losing weight and recreating a physique reminiscent of his time in Seattle last year, Wilson looked more spry than he had in his first year in Denver.
And while athletes typically don't regain form the longer their career lasts, Wilson aims to change that.
"This past year I felt like myself again," Wilson said in March. "And so I can't wait to just put on the cleats and go after it."
And at this point of the offseason, Wilson is cleary the QB that Pittsburgh aims to start. There has been rhetoric about a QB competition beginning in training camp, but I find it hard to believe that after weeks of Russell dominating first-team opportunities, Pittsburgh is suddenly going to divy up the reps.
"Mike [Tomlin] stated on the record, you know, Russ [Wilson] is in the pole position," OC Arthur Smith told reporters on Tuesday. "It's a competition and obviously, when we get to Latrobe, I mean, certainly I'm sure things will heat up. But both those guys knew that when however they were acquired and they got here. I think it's been pretty transparent. I know Mike said that on the record as well."
A revived Russ aims to be the one who wins the race from the pole.
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